After the door closed, Ari exhaled and turned around.

The room was incredible.

And huge.

Rich dark blue walls surrounded her on three sides and a wall of windows lined the far wall. She walked over and glanced out at the rolling hills that seemed to stretch out forever.

Cows and horses filled the pastures and she could see a large red barn somewhere on the right. A couple of cowboys were riding among the animals but neither had the build or looks of Duke Fallon.

She still couldn't believe that she’d covered her new boss in mud. As far as first impressions went, that had to be right up there as the worst. She’d make it a point to apologize at dinner and hopefully smooth things over.

There was a door to her left and when she opened it, a warm breeze wafted into the room. She quickly stepped out onto a small private balcony and shut the door behind her then inhaled a lungful of fresh air.

There was no undertone of exhaust like there was in the city, and instead of looming buildings all around her, there was only open space.

It was...intimidating. She’d spent all her life in Boston and was used to the closeness of everything. There was a certain comfort in having everything and everyone within arm’s reach. So what if she never caught glimpses of the stars because of the city lights?

Being able to find Thai food at midnight was a good exchange in her book.

If there was an emergency, or a fire, how long would it take for anyone to get all the way out here anyway? What if she fell and broke her arm? Or got bit by a rattlesnake? Was it possible she might die out here?

She crossed her arms and rubbed her hands over her biceps to chase away the goose bumps.

Clearly people lived like this. According to the ranch’s website, people paid a lot of money to come out and stay here in the middle of nowhere. She, Arianna Ripley was being paid to do it and she could survive a month in the fresh air and vastness.

It’s not like she was alone in the middle of the wilderness for crying out loud.

“Get a grip, Ari,” she murmured to herself. “You came here for a job and you will leave with cash in your pocket. Enough to pay for your semester of college. It’s not like you’re even roughing it and you have to admit, the view is pretty spectacular.”

Her mind drifted to Duke, how he looked when he rode up on that huge black horse. If there was a perfect specimen of a man, it had to be him. Before she went home she vowed to snap a few pictures of him with her phone.

Nobody back home would believe her otherwise.

The heat of the day soaked into her skin the longer she stood there and soon her blouse was sticking to her back and chest. The low-heeled sandals that had been comfortable earlier today were making her feet sweaty and sore. Molly said to make herself at home and right now, a cool shower sounded as close to heaven as she’d be getting in this lifetime.

Back inside the room she dug through her bag and pulled out a tank top and a pair of shorts. She’d packed her favorite sneakers, well worn and the most comfortable shoes she owned. They’d be a nice change to her sandals. She chose a light grey pair of lacy boy shorts and a matching bra.

She stepped toward the bathroom door while pulling her hair free from the loose bun. It cascaded down her back and she shook her head, wincing at the pain that always came with letting her hair down.

Just as she reached for the doorknob, it turned and the door wrenched open. A waft of manly scented steam rushed out at her and when it cleared...holy shit.

Duke stood in front of her in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist and it drooped precariously low on his hips. He’d been in the middle of rubbing another towel over his head when he saw her.

“You’re in a towel,” she sputtered. “Just a towel.”

“You shower with your clothes on in the city?” The corner of his lip turned up in a wry smile and it took her a minute to make herself focus on something besides the ridges running like ladders down both sides of his stomach. Apparently he wasn’t angry with her anymore. Water droplets clung to his skin and made him glisten. A wild urge to lean forward and see if the droplets on his skin tasted as good as they looked shot through her, and she took a quick step back, clutching her clothes to her chest.

Before she did something crazy like run her fingers over the dips and grooves that made up his body.

“Why?” she managed to squeeze out of her too tight throat.

“Why do I shower with my clothes off or why am I wearing a towel?”

Ari couldn’t tell if he was teasing her or if he was serious. Collecting her thoughts was taking a herculean effort.

“Why are you in my bathroom showering?” There. A complete sentence and it made sense.

He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. Those were not bulky gym muscles, not by a long shot. He was lean, defined without an ounce of fat on his tanned skin. The stubble she’d admired earlier was still there, darkening the edge of his jaw.

“Well you got me kind of dirty earlier.” He moved past her and into the room, going to a large dresser opposite the bed to pull out what were obviously his clothes. “And darlin’, take a look around. You’re in my room and this is my shower. Technically, our shower for the next month.”

Now that she really looked around she could see it was obviously decorated for a man. Dark bold colors and not a feminine touch in sight. But it didn’t explain why Molly had brought her bags here if this was Duke’s room. The woman was very efficient and Ari was sure it hadn’t been a just a mistake.

Duke disappeared back into the bathroom but left the door ajar. Not that she could see anything but the sound of the towel hitting the floor brought heat to her cheeks. More rustling and then a belt buckle sound clinking. He walked out tugging a t-shirt over his head, covering that delicious looking six pack she’d been admiring minutes ago.

“I thought it was a guest room,” she continued. “Why am I in your room?”

He stopped and looked at her, his dark blue eyes delving into the depths of her soul, or so it felt.

“It’s why you’re here,” he said slowly, his eyebrows dipping down. “At the ranch.”

Now she was really confused. “I was hired to do a photo shoot for promotional materials. A month long project. That’s what Molly said. That’s why I’m here.”

He stared at her for a minute and it felt like he was waiting for her to say something else.

“Fuck,” he muttered, dragging his fingers over his jaw. “I assumed you knew why you were here. We need to go have a little talk with Molly. It seems she left out a few details of your job description.”

“Sleeping in your room is part of the job?” Her voice lifted a little higher and heat climbed up her neck. Yes she was remembering what he looked like in just a towel, and it seemed to be causing her to speak like Minnie Mouse.

She couldn’t deny that he was the hottest man she’d ever seen in person, but she didn’t even know him. Panic started to set in. What the hell had she agreed to by coming here?

“Come on.” His gruff voice broke through the haze in her head and he opened the bedroom door.

She followed behind him, not even bothering to put her shoes back on. The main house was enormous and she couldn’t help but stare as they made their way down a massive staircase.

On the way into the house, Molly had told her that the guests stayed in the rooms to the right and that the private rooms were to the left. Ari had just assumed that meant her own room.

She’d seen quite a few doors upstairs, so all the rooms couldn’t be taken. Why had Molly put her in Duke’s room and more importantly, why wasn’t Duke surprised she was there?

“Molly,” Duke barked out, pushing through a large door just off the main foyer. “Where the hell are you?” He was almost shouting now and a couple who were just walking into the house paused. The woman’s eyes widened a fraction and she took a quick step closer to the man she was with.

They both watched Duke with unease as they made their way to the staircase. That was weird. They were guests and Duke was the owner of Heartland Ranch.

Before she could think about it more, clicking heels sounded and then Molly came around the corner, a glare pulling her eyebrows down. “Will you please stop shouting? There may only be a few guests here but we can’t afford to scare them away. Especially now.”

Ari watched the exchange and saw the way Duke clenched his teeth. A tick in his jaw gave away his displeasure.

Molly crossed her arms over her chest, then gave Ari an apologetic smile. “What seems to be the problem?”

“For starters,” Duke growled. “You seem to have left out a big part of why you brought Arianna here. Her accommodations were a surprise, Molly. Why didn’t you tell her what was going on?”

Molly glanced around and then walked to the door marked Office and motioned for them to come inside. Ari walked past Duke when he stopped and motioned for her to go in first. The scent of some kind of masculine soap filled her lungs and it brought back the memory of Duke in just a towel.

It took all her effort to shake away that picture and focus on what Molly was saying.

“I needed her here to ensure confidentiality.” Molly looked at Ari now. “I assure you that everything I told you was true. I just...left out a few details that I didn’t want to discuss until you signed a non-disclosure.”

“I don’t understand.” Ari looked to Duke who was still glaring at Molly.

“It appears that my Public Relations Manager brought you here uninformed of our situation.” His accent had thickened, like it had when he’d been frustrated with her earlier. “You’re supposed to be playing the part of my girlfriend.”

“Christ, Duke, she hasn’t signed anything yet,” Molly burst out. “What if she goes to the press?”

Duke narrowed his gaze on Ari. “Planning on going to the press?”

Ari stared helplessly at Duke then her gaze moved to Molly. “I don’t have a clue what’s happening so it would be pretty hard to go to the press about it. I thought I was here to model for promotional materials for the ranch?”

“Partially true.” Molly dug through a folder and pushed several papers at Ari. “There will be photos and a videography of the two of you. Read these and sign please. All they say is that whatever we discuss cannot be talked about with anyone except for Duke or myself. Its standard stuff, I promise. Once you sign I’ll tell you everything.”

Ari read over the paper and all it said was that she was not to talk about any privileged information regarding the ranch. It seemed a little absurd to her, but so did the idea of being Duke’s girlfriend. Who even did something like that? The man was sex on a stick, and he most certainly didn’t need to trick women into coming to his ranch.

“Are you going to tell me where the bodies are buried after I sign this?” she asked, only half joking.

“That’s a whole other agreement,” Duke said. “We’ll work up to that one.”

She signed and hoped like hell she hadn’t just made some pact with the devil for her soul. When there was no flash of brimstone, she exhaled and her shoulders relaxed.

“A few months ago there was an incident at the ranch,” Molly began. Duke growled at the word incident and his fingers fisted at his side.

“That fucker was abusing one of my horses. I don’t care how much god damned money you have, that shit won’t fly here,” Duke said.

Tension radiated from Duke and Ari glanced up at him from the corner of her eye. Even when he was angry he was magnificent, taking up all the space in the room and not just because of his size. He commanded attention and it was hard to keep her gaze off him.

Especially when his muscles bunched under his t-shirt like they did every time he moved his arms. He was probably strong enough to lift her off the ground and press her against the wall…

Her face exploded with heat.

When she looked up Duke’s eyes were on her and the intensity took her breath away. He reminded her of a caged tiger in that moment.

“That guest ended up in the hospital and there was some bad press,” Molly continued, pulling Ari’s attention back to the woman. “As a result, our bookings went way down and the loss of revenue is noticeable. I found you, Arianna, because we’re trying to soften Duke’s image. If people see that he’s settling down with a nice normal girl, we can spin it to show that the outburst was a simple reaction to an unfortunate mistake.”

A growl echoed around the room. Molly sighed and waved her hand in Duke’s direction. “It’s a work in progress.”

“You brought me here to pose as his girlfriend? For real?” Ari asked. Ignoring the spike in her pulse at the thought, she took a step back. “Isn’t that something you think I should have known before I accepted? I thought I was coming here for marketing purposes.”

“In a way that’s exactly what you’re doing. We’ll get shots, video, of the two of you together and that will be the focus of all the new material we release. The focus will be on how relaxed and happy he is now that he’s found you, Arianna. Showing that Duke has settled down should put an end to the speculation about his temper and we can get back on track with our clientele. You’ll be compensated and can go back to your life, the ranch’s reputation will be intact and everything will be back on track.”

Molly smiled brightly as if her plan was infallible.

“I haven’t agreed yet,” Ari said. “I’m still not sure…”

“I’ll have a separate room prepared if that would make you feel better. Duke thought that the two of you should be together in case any of the guests wandered into that part of the house, but we can put you in the room across the hall from him and I think that will still work. There, is there anything else you need before this is settled?”

Ari was at a loss for words. “I need to think about it. I’m sorry.” Her gaze dipped to Duke, expecting to see frustration or even anger, but he was studying her, a curious expression on his face.

“Stay the night,” Molly said. “You’ve had a long day and sometimes things are clearer with fresh eyes. I’ll have a tray sent up so that you can take a bath and I can book you a massage at seven? Raul has magic fingers and he can even come right to your room if you’d like.”

Molly grinned as if they were girlfriends sharing a secret.

“Thank you, but I don’t need a massage tonight. I’d just like to shower and maybe get a little sleep.” Ari felt exhaustion roll over her. This day...it hadn’t turned out anything like she was expecting. Her instinct said to just leave but the practical side begged her to reconsider. The money was too good, enough to get her settled into a smaller apartment and pay for her first semester of college. If she passed this up, it would take her a year of working and paying bills just to save up enough for a couple of classes.

“We can talk in the morning,” Molly said gently. “I am sorry this was all sprung on you, I just have to be careful with what gets out to the press right now.”

The apology was shining from Molly’s eyes and Ari didn’t doubt that the woman had just been looking out for the ranch, as her job dictated. That helped to ease Ari’s mind a little.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad?

God, was she really thinking of saying yes to this crazy idea?

“I’ll think about it,” she said quickly before she opened her mouth and said yes. She really did need to consider what she’d just learned.

“I can show her to her own room.” Duke moved to her side and laid his hand on the small of her back. He kept it there until they reached the stairs and then he let her go up first.

She could feel his stare burning into the back of her neck and she almost missed a step she was so focused on the tingles racing up her spine. And there was the reason she was thinking about leaving and staying. Getting to be around Duke, listening to that sexy accent, seeing him with and without a shirt.

She was ready to sign on the dotted line.

She needed to think with her head, not her lonely vagina. That almost made her laugh out loud. Who said that Duke was even interested in her that way? She’d covered him in mud and seen him in a towel, but that was about the extent of their interactions.

The fact that he sent a guest to the hospital should scare the crap out of her, but though fleeting, his hand on her back made her feel anything but scared.

“It’s right here,” he said, so close to her ear that she felt his warm breath slide over the sensitive lobe. Duke reached around her to open the door and his body brushed against her back. She fought back a moan.

It had been awhile since she’d seen any action that wasn’t run on batteries. And her previous partners? The impression they left had been mediocre at best. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for earth shattering sex.

Maybe, with a man like Duke…

She shook her head. She hadn’t even decided to stay yet, and she was already planning the consummation of their intimacy. And a man like Duke surely had his pick of beautiful women.

What made her think he would even give her a second glance?

“I’ll grab your bags,” Duke told her. He disappeared into his room then came out a minute later with her things. He stepped around her and set them next to a pretty canopy bed that sat in the corner of a beautifully decorated lavender room.

Through an open door she could just see a glimpse of a huge soaking tub. That was where she planned on spending the next hour.

Duke cleared his throat and when she turned, he was watching her with that same intense stare from earlier. He filled the doorway and there was a magnetism to him that drew her in, made her want to close the distance and run her fingers over his chest to see if he was as hard as he looked.

Her nipples hardened despite the warmth in the room.

“I’d like to show you something, if you're up for it,” Duke drawled.

Her one-track mind immediately went there and she could feel heat rushing to her face. He would laugh at her any minute now. When he didn’t, she dared to look up and the air in her lungs froze.

The dark hunger in his eyes made her mouth go dry. No one had ever looked at her like they wanted to devour her. He radiated a different kind of tension, and holy hell, she was on the receiving end of something she’d never had the courage to even dream of.

An impossibly hot man was looking at her with pure unadulterated lust.

Warmth gathered between her legs and she felt her panties grow damp. She needed to breathe but couldn’t seem to remember how. She knew her nipples strained against her shirt because they were aching for his touch.

He pushed off the doorway and strolled across the room not stopping until he was standing right in front of her. She had to crane her neck up to see him since he stood almost a foot taller than her. He reached out and laid his hand against the side of her neck and settled his thumb against the pulse beating in her neck.

What was it about this man that made her want him so desperately?

“Are you scared of me after what Molly told you?” His gaze bore into hers and in the depths Ari thought she saw a flicker of vulnerability. This gorgeous hunk of a man was worried she might think less of him?

Even though her heartbeat pounded against her ribs, it wasn’t because of fear. “No,” she whispered. And it was the truth. She was drawn to him, had been the minute he rode up on his horse.

“I'd like to show you the ranch before you make your decision. And explain a few things. Is that okay?” He ran his thumb up and down the side of her neck and she leaned into his touch before she could stop herself.

When was the last time a man had touched her like that?

Never. Not like that.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Do I have time to take a shower first?”

He sucked in a harsh breath then exhaled. When he stepped back, his eyes were black with desire. “I’ll be downstairs when you're ready.” His voice was raspy and that accent she already craved made her knees a little weak.

It was on the tip of her tongue to invite him to join her, which was why she took a step back, away from the temptation of his touch. “I won’t be long,” she said softly.

“Take the time you need, Boston.” He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear then with one last heated glance, he turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind him. As soon as he left, Ari deflated into a mass of gooey shuddering desire.

Holy. Hell.

She was going to have to take a cold shower after that exchange. The smile didn’t leave her lips the entire time she stood under the water.

Twenty minutes later, she walked downstairs and found Duke waiting just like he’d promised. He’d put his hat back on but he tipped the brim back when she reached the bottom step. His gaze roamed over her, and when he met her stare, appreciation had darkened the blue in his eyes.

She’d chosen a more comfortable pair of jean shorts and a deep purple tank top that dipped low but not obscenely so, mainly to combat the heat. Okay, and maybe to show off a little.

Her hair was in a high ponytail to keep it off her neck and she’d thrown on her tennis shoes for comfort. A light coating of tinted sunscreen and some mascara were the extent of her beauty routine.

Judging by the look in his eyes, Duke approved.

They stepped outside and his hand was on her back again.

“Have you ever been on a horse?” he asked.

Goose bumps broke out over her skin when he slid his hand just a little lower. Her mouth had gone dry so she just shook her head.

“If you stay, I’ll show you how.” He stepped up even closer and her feet forgot how to operate. “Nothing like having a powerful animal between your thighs, yours to control.”

Was that a whimper that just bubbled out of her throat?

Duke’s hot gaze dropped to her lips and for a crazy second, she thought he was going to kiss her, and damn if she wasn’t going to let him. Instead his lips turned up into a devilish grin and he backed up a step and nudged her forward.

It took her until they reached the barn to get her breathing under control. Duke took up all the air and space around them, and she felt like a moon trapped in this powerful planet’s gravitational pull. Since he’d walked her to her room, it seemed like he had turned the sexual tension knob up to Danger.

“Are you always this…this intense?” she finally asked.

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. “If I said no, would you believe me?”

“Not really.” Why did her voice go breathless every time he looked at her? She was an adult, not some giddy teenager. Except giddy was exactly how she felt when he turned those smoldering eyes in her direction.

There were probably a string of heartbroken women all over Montana because of him. She needed to remember that this was only temporary.

“So what happened?” she asked. “With that guy you beat up?”

The abrupt change in subject took the playfulness from his face. Ari regretted it instantly. She loved his smile and wanted it back. “Sorry, I just…”

He stopped in front of the barn and tipped his hat back so that she could see his eyes. Frustration and anger warred in the blue depths. “I never wanted all this shit.”

It was almost like he’d forgotten she was standing there. He was lost for a moment, staring out across the pasture, and something inside her went soft.

When she laid her hand on his arm, he almost looked surprised she was standing there, but as soon as he looked at her, that cocky facade slipped back into place.

That was the second time she’d sensed something more under his macho exterior. “Have you always been a cowboy?” She couldn’t imagine him as anything else.

A grin turned the corner of his mouth up. “Yes, ma’am,” he drawled and she might have melted into a puddle at his feet.

“Did this place belong to your parents?”

His eyes went stormy and dark and his entire body tensed. His hands clenched into fists and a growl rumbled from his chest. He went someplace else for a second before he focused back on her.

“Hell no,” he ground out.

She stepped closer to him and reached her hands to cup his face. She had no idea why she did it but the urge to comfort him had been too great to resist. The stubble abraded her fingertips.

“I’m sorry.”

His pupils widened and he stared at her, his gaze searching until she felt the tension fall away and the black in his eyes diminished. His shoulders sank and he sucked in a harsh breath. When he took a step back, her hands fell. Then he pulled his hat forward, enough so that the shade covered his eyes.

“All this...not my idea. At least, not at first. I’m better with horses than people.” Finally he tilted his head so she could see him again. “As for that guy I put in the hospital? The fucker was beating the shit out of one of my horses. Beating it, and I caught him in the act. I lost my shit. Saw red, and the next thing I remember, the cops were here and....everything just went to hell. Molly’s been trying to figure out a way to fix all this since our bottom line took a huge hit. Now everyone thinks I’m some out of control monster. Like I could just snap and go crazy if a guest looks at me wrong.” He snorted at the absurdity of such an idea.

Ari looked around. The place was massive and beautiful and she couldn’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t want to come there. “Why’d you do all this if it wasn’t some kind of dream?”

Duke snorted. “I lived and breathed horses for as long as I can remember. Clayton Oliver owned this place and I started working here when I was twelve. I had a knack for it. When he died, I was eighteen and he left the damned place to me. Didn’t have any family and the old bastard liked me for some reason. Like I said, I’m good with animals,” he shrugged. “Eventually word got around and business kept picking up. Before I knew it, I’d bought up another ten thousand acres to add to it.”

Ari’s eyes bugged out of her head. She couldn't fathom that much space. “So you own, like, everything I can see?” The landscape was so flat that it looked like she could see all the way to the horizon.

Duke laughed and led her over to a split rail fence. He leaned his elbows on it and looked out over a half dozen horses grazing nearby. One whinnied and trotted over and Duke stroked down over the animal's nose. Ari watched fascinated at the way the man and beast interacted. They seemed to understand each other, and when Duke said something too low for her to hear, the horse nodded.

“I’ve never touched a horse before,” she whispered.

His eyebrows lifted and that sexy grin curled his lip up. “Belle here won’t bite if you’d like to give it a go.”

The animal was a mix of white and black splotches that almost looked like an abstract painting. “She’s beautiful,” Ari gasped. Duke showed her how to hold out her hand and she giggled when the horse nosed her palm and tickled with its whiskers. “I had no idea they were so soft.”

Carefully she reached up and ran her fingers down Belle’s nose like she’d just seen Duke do. The horse made a chuffing sound and Ari pulled away quickly, looking at Duke.

He was still smiling but there was a look in his eyes that made her knees a little weak. “She likes you.” He ran his hand down her back then patted her rump and the horse sounded like it giggled before running off. Ari watched with a smile on her face.

“Horses are good judges of character,” he said, his eyes never leaving her face. “She tried to bite that asshole who hit her. People like him have no patience for the innocent.”

Ari felt her stomach twist. “He was hitting her?”

Duke merely nodded, but she could see the pain in his eyes. “That was Belle what was getting hurt that day. If I hadn’t happened along, who knows how far he would’ve took it.”

Right then and there, seeing the kindness in his eyes for that sweet horse, she made up her mind.

“I’ll stay and help you.”

“Thank you,” was all he said. But it was enough.

After a quick tour of a barn that could rival any mansion in Boston for sheer size and impressiveness, Duke escorted Ari back to her room.

Awareness flared in her body when he said goodnight and she wanted to invite him in, but didn’t. She needed to be alone and figure out what the hell she was doing.

Even though she was exhausted, all she could do was lie in bed and think about Duke. Her mind kept flicking back to him in just a towel, then conjured up his scent, the one she got lost in when she had hugged him.

This was probably the biggest mistake of her life, because she knew without a doubt that she wanted him. And she thought she felt interest from his side, too.

She knew this couldn’t lead anywhere good.

With a groan she threw the covers off her overheated body.

Duke had unleashed an itch inside her and nothing was helping. Knowing he was just across the hall was torture, so she did the next best thing. She slid her fingers down over her stomach and into the front of her panties.

Ari bit back a moan when she pushed through her own folds and found herself soaking wet. Just as she started sliding her fingers across where she needed it most, a knock came at her door. Her nipples strained against her thin tank top so she grabbed her sheet and pulled it up.

“Come in.”

As if she’d conjured him from her fantasies, Duke stepped into the room wearing nothing except a pair of lounge pants that hung low on his lean hips. Her mouth watered at the sight and she had to force her gaze upwards to meet his stare.

“Thought you might be hungry,” he said.

He carried a tray toward her and the sheet fell as she moved so he could set the tray down next to her.

On it was a sandwich, a soda and a few cookies.

His gaze snagged on the hard peaks pushing against the cotton. His breath hissed out and he shifted a few steps from the bed.

Heat flooded her body. Maybe if she hadn't been thinking about him, about how he’d feel under her fingers or how his skin would taste, it would be easier to ignore how the room shrank around them. If she wasn’t buzzing with awareness from where her fingers had been pressed between her legs, she might be able to look away from the fire burning in his eyes.

Instead she was trapped, half inside her fantasy and half here with him. Her breath hitched in her chest. He was right, she was hungry, starving actually, but not for anything on the tray. But she had to do something, so she grabbed the cookie and took a small bite, though she barely tasted it.

His gaze turned predatory when he looked at her lips.

“You can’t look at me like that,” she whispered.

“Like what?” The thick drawl in his voice made her even wetter. She’d noticed that whenever his eyes went dark, his accent became more pronounced.

“Like…you…want….something.”

“Maybe I do want something. And I usually get what I want, Boston.”

Oh god. She was soaking wet and her nipples were about to poke through the thin cotton stretched over her chest. This was all just supposed to be pretend.

She had been brought here to act like she felt something for this man, but she couldn't deny that the desire flaming through her veins was very real right now.

In fact, this was the realest thing she’d ever felt.

She dropped her hands to the sheet and twisted her fingers into the soft fabric. Her voice was trapped in her throat, so she nodded slowly.

An acquiescence of sorts.

His eyes flared and he sucked in a breath.

A week’s worth of building tension between them came down to this moment. Duke pressed his hands into the bed, one on each side of her hips and though he hadn’t touched her yet, she could feel the heat radiating from his sun-kissed chest. She inhaled deep, filling her lungs with the scent of soap and Duke, a smell that reminded her of nights spent outside under the stars.

Slowly and deliberately he lowered his head until his lips were just a whisper from hers. She’d expected that he would swoop down, take what he wanted and she’d been ready to give it to him. This teasing, just the tip of his tongue flicking over her lips was making her ache for more.

She groaned, lifted her chin and tried to press her mouth against his, but he backed off with a cocky grin, tilting his chin upward.

He knew he was driving her crazy with need.

When he leaned forward again, he took his time, rasping his tongue over her lips, and the hot velvety touch drew soft whimpers from her throat.

Ari dug her fingers into the bedding and gripped it like her life depended on holding on. Duke took her bottom lip between his teeth and nipped until she moaned, then slid his tongue between them and into her mouth. He took, demanded that she give everything to him with deep bold strokes of a man who liked to be in control. Who was used to taking what he wanted.

She’d never been kissed like that before. His touch reached every part of her body, every slide of his tongue sent desire rippling down to pulse between her legs. He ripped his mouth free and stared into her eyes, his harsh breath washing over her mouth. The muscles in his body were tight and she could feel the tension rolling off him.

“Fuck, you taste good, darlin’. I’ll bet you’re just as sweet everywhere, aren’t you?” As if to test his theory he dipped his head and took her mouth again. Ari moaned low in her throat and finally let her fingers relax enough to move them to his arms. She dragged her nails down over the hard muscles in his forearm.

God, but he was tight and strong and powerful.

He sank down lower, letting his body move onto hers. The tray rattled next to them, reminding her that it was there. She pulled back just enough to catch her breath.

Her heart thundered against her chest. She’d never done anything so bold before. The men in her life, the few that there were to speak of, didn’t make her feel reckless like Duke did. She wanted him to want her as much as she wanted him.

She leaned forward and ran her tongue over his hot skin, just above his nipple. He tasted salty and sweet at the same time and it was suddenly her favorite flavor of all time. Now Duke was panting in her ear. All she got was a warning growl before he slid his hand into the hair at the back of her neck and closed his fingers, effectively pinning her in place.

“So you like to tease, Boston?” he asked, the timbre of his voice lowering so that it felt like melted chocolate flowing over her. His lips moved over her jaw, slowly along the side of her face until he stopped, poised just below her ear. “Well, now I’m going to tease you until you beg me to make you come.” He nipped at the sensitive flesh under her ear and she arched under him. “And when you do, you’re gonna be screaming my name, darlin’.”

His accent grew thicker as his voice went gravelly. She could feel him hot and hard against her hip and she wanted nothing more than to wrap her legs around him and see just how good he could fill her.

Every inch of her skin pulsed with need. She shifted, grazing her nipples over his chest, desperate for any kind of friction to ease the ache that was taking over her body. It wasn’t enough. His weight kept her pinned and she would get no relief unless he gave it to her.

She sank back down in defeat and met his dark stare.

“Please,” she whispered.

Heat flared in his eyes and his fingers tightened in her hair enough to make her gasp. The tiny bite of pain was something new for her and sharpened the edge of her desire. She lay trapped under him, neither of them moving for several long seconds. Duke pressed a kiss to her chest, just above the material of her top before inching down her body.

His fingers slid from her hair and caressed her skin, running his nails lightly over the hard peaks of her nipples. Now free from his weight, Ari arched her back, tried to get closer to his touch but he kept moving down until his fingers could slip under the hem of her tank top. He brushed across the bare skin just under her ribs and she sucked in a harsh breath.

Everything he did made the ache inside her coil tighter and he’d barely even touched her. He pushed her shirt up until he had her chest and stomach bared. He pressed open-mouthed kisses along her hip, up her side, then nibbled his way toward her breast.

The air in the room stilled and Ari froze, waited for the first touch. She trembled uncontrollably from the anticipation. The whispery touches drove her higher, each one sweeter than the last, until the barest of movement brushed across her tight nipple.

“Oh god.” She whimpered at the feathery soft pressure. “Please.” Her voice broke as she pleaded with him. If he didn’t stop teasing her, she was going to go mad.

Duke closed his lips over her nipple and sucked it between his teeth.

A strangled cry burst from her lips and warmth flooded her panties. How could she be this close to orgasm from just his mouth on her breast? It was crazy, insane, and yet another deep suckle sent her spiraling to the edge where he kept her balanced, soothing the throbbing tip with his tongue as moans spilled from her lips.

“Are you close, Boston?” He moved to the other side and continued his torturous exploration. When he tugged her nipple between his teeth, pleasure shot between her legs and she pressed her thighs together, desperate for the fraction that would send her over the edge. So close. All she needed was just a few strokes and…

“Has anyone ever made you come just from playing with your tits? You’re so close aren’t you? Fuck you’re responsive as hell, Boston. I bet you could. I bet you could come apart in my arms without me ever even touching that sweet little pussy.”

She shook her head but then nodded, not sure what question she was answering. The tension was killing her and all she wanted was release, however he would give it to her. She dug her nails into his arms. Duke tugged her nipple back into his mouth while rolling the other one between his fingers.

He bit down and pinched at the same time and suddenly it was too much. Ari arched, froze as he continued his dual assault on the hard peaks, dragging her closer and closer to the edge. She gripped his arms, used them as leverage to pull herself closer. He rolled one nipple with just enough pressure to send her eyes rolling back in her head.

“I can’t...I need…” she panted incoherently. She squeezed her thighs together as tight as she could and felt the wetness seeping between them. It didn’t matter, nothing mattered except for the sweet pressure building to a climax inside her. “Don’t stop,” she pleaded. “God please don’t stop.”

Duke growled against her breast, the sound vibrating her already overloaded senses. Wildness like she’d never experienced gripped her muscles. She was right there, so close. Duke was right, he was going to make her come without touching her pussy.

He squeezed her nipple tightly between his fingers and sucked hard on the other at the same time and it was all she needed. Intense pressure followed by the sweetest pleasure she’d ever felt sent her over the edge. A keening moan ripped from her throat and her body went rigid. The orgasm slammed into her and she arched against his body, dug her nails into his skin as lights exploded behind her eyelids.

The air in her lungs froze and for several long seconds, she couldn’t move at all. All she could do was feel as wave after wave crashed over her head, pulled her until she was forced to open her mouth and gulp in much needed breaths.

She was vaguely aware of Duke, how his touch had softened now, and how he was gently sucking her nipple between his lips, stroking it with the flat of his tongue. When he body went limp, he finally lifted his head. Hunger shone from his eyes, so dark and intense that she involuntarily clenched the walls of her pussy, sending another fissure of pleasure through her body.

A rough groan escaped from her lips.

If possible, Duke’s body went ever more rigid. She could feel his rock hard cock pressed against her hips, the soft fabric of his lounge pants doing nothing to hide how much he wanted her. His jaw was tight and hard, clenched as if he were furious about something. If not for the look of pure lust in his eyes, she might have thought he was angry with her.

“Fuck, Boston,” he growled. “I’ve never seen anything hotter in my life. That was...god I can’t wait to be inside you when you do that.”

Ari whimpered. Yes please. She slid her leg higher and wrapped it around his hip, putting his cock right at her center. They were separated by the bed sheet and his pants, and she wanted everything gone. All she needed was to feel him there, his hard warm flesh pressed against hers.

He stroked his finger over her bottom lip and her tongue darted out to run over the tip. His entire body vibrated with the deep rumbling sound he made. He rocked his hips and she pressed against his length.

If he wanted her to beg, she was right there.

Duke slid down her body and took the sheet with him, not stopping until his shoulders were nestled between her knees. He traced his fingers up the outside of her thighs, leaned down and pressed a kiss to the inner part of her knee, then looked up at her.

“But not tonight. Tonight is all about making you feel good. I’m going to push you further than you ever thought you could go, Boston, make you come more times than you can count.”

He cupped the underside of her thighs and ran his hands down slowly. His thumbs grazed the edge of her soaked panties, sliding up the outside of her silk covered pussy until he brought them together to lightly squeeze her clit.

Her lips parted on a gasp. After that first monster orgasm, everything was super sensitive and she was sure he knew that. His touch was soft, teasing, and the more he rubbed over her, the more restless she became. It felt amazing, but she wanted more.

She needed to feel him without anything between them.

“Please,” she panted. “Touch me, Duke.”

“Oh, I am,” he replied. As if to prove it his thumb pressed a little harder against her clit and he moved it in a slow circle. Her eyes practically rolled back in her head. “Look how wet you are,” he murmured. “I bet my fingers would slide right up inside you without any trouble.”

“Yes. Do that.” Her voice broke as she rocked her hips against his touch. “Please, fucking do it.”

His deep dark chuckle made her skin break out in goose bumps. “Since you asked so politely, Boston…” Instead of pulling down her panties like she expected, he slipped a finger under the side and slid one finger into her slick channel.

She clenched down around it, groaning so loud that guests in nearby rooms probably heard her. At least she was selling the fact that they were in fact, together. After tonight there wouldn’t be any doubt in anyone’s mind. Hell, the entire state of Montana was going to know that she belonged to Duke Fallon and she would never regret a single second of tonight.

Even after this was over and she had gone back to Boston, she would remember every touch, every kiss from this man who made her pulse race and her body ache. And until the day she had to leave, she planned to enjoy every second of being with him, until she had enough memories to last her a lifetime.

Duke slid a second finger inside her and crooked them so that he touched a spot inside that made her arch into his touch. The place he was stroking caused a sharper tension to build, one that grew from deeper inside her body.

Nothing had ever felt like that.

He moved in and out slowly, using his thumb to rub the slickness over her clit while he was still inside her. Ari didn’t know where to focus. The pleasure was coming from two different areas but converged into one gut clenching sensation that took her breath away.

The pleasure built so swiftly that she was tumbling over the edge before she even realized it. Her hips jerked upward and all the muscles in her body locked up. A scream lodged in her throat and when she finally pushed it out, it was more of a raspy high-pitched moan.

His movements slowed as she came down from the second orgasm in as many minutes. Now I know what Jell-O feels like, she thought, closing her eyes and focusing on drawing air in and out of her lungs.

She expected that he would take off his pants, remove her panties and slide up her body, inside her body, and she was more than ready. Her breath hitched when he hooked his thumbs in the silk at her hips and tugged it down. But instead of coming down on top of her, he dropped his head between her legs and she felt his fingers slide back inside her.

This time though, it was his tongue on her clit and not his thumb.

The softer touch took her breath away. His fingers moved shallower than before, but they passed over a spot that made her entire pussy clench around them. Combined with the way he laid his tongue flat and dragged it up and over her pulsing clit, the feelings sent her right back to the edge.

The pleasure spiraled inside her, a mini tornado that was sweeping her completely into the swirling mass of chaos. She lifted her chin higher, stretched out her body until it was pulled so tight that she would surely snap.

Just when she was poised and ready to spill over, he slowed, made each movement of his fingers and tongue deliberate. The build slowed but became so much deeper. Low groans were ripped from her throat and she sucked in a breath and held it, straining for the release that was right there.

He sucked the hard nub between his lips and lightly scraped his teeth along the overly sensitized bud, taking her right to the very edge to balance there with every nerve in her body ready to explode.

He kept her there for one long second, then flicked the tip of his tongue deliberately against her clit and her world exploded into a burst of fireworks so bright that the room seemed to fill with bright white light. She screamed his name, or maybe it was in her head, she had no idea. Liquid molten heat flowed through her body and she clenched around his fingers, drawing out the pleasure that bordered on painful.

Aftershocks rocked her each time he moved his fingers. She whimpered. Begged him to stop, begged him not to stop. Her stomach muscles tightened and released over and over and she couldn’t gain control over her body.

Duke owned it. He owned her right this moment.

Finally his fingers slid from her slick channel and she felt the soft warmth of his tongue as he stroked it over her opening, dipping inside, and the vibration of his growl made her hips move against him as he feasted on her release.

Ari lay back as the tension slipped from her body. Satisfaction like she’d never felt made her grin like a fool. She barely bit back the giddy laugh. Wow. That was...beyond words.

Duke shifted and pushed himself to his knees, still between her legs. A shiver of excitement rippled over her. She may feel like a noodle but there was no denying that she wanted what came next.

Except he did nothing but look at her, his hungry gaze taking in every detail of her flushed and sated body. The longer he stared the more confused she became. She could see how much he wanted her. His cock strained against the material of his pants and she started to reach for him.

He grabbed her wrist and turned it so that he could kiss her still wildly beating pulse.

“Tonight was all about you, making you feel good.”

“But…”

He pressed his lips to her palm and a jolt of electricity zinged from where he touched. Her nipples hardened and she shifted her hips. What did he plan to do? Go back to his room and…oh hell. Images danced in her head and right that second she knew what she wanted.

Before she lost her nerve she scooted back enough fully see him then let her knees drop to the side, exposing her pussy to his gaze. He sucked in a harsh breath and his chest rumbled.

She slid her fingers down over her stomach and slipped the middle one between her legs. She’d come so much she was wet and slick, enough to dip down and drag the moisture back up to her clit. A soft moan drifted from between her lips.

“Are you planning to take care of that yourself when you get back to your room?” Her voice was raspy from the guttural screams he’d dragged from her.

He nodded, not taking his gaze away from where she played with herself. She’d never done anything like this before and had to wonder why not. She felt like a sex goddess and Duke’s reaction only made her hotter.

“Will you do it here, now, so I can watch you?”

He closed his eyes and groaned so loud that the bed vibrated. His cock strained against the cotton. “Fuck darlin, you’re killing me.”

She slid her finger inside her pussy and gasped. “I’ve never watched a guy get off before. Will you do that for me? Can I watch you make yourself come?”

His entire body was rigid and she could feel the tension radiating off his sinful body. He lifted his gaze and the lust swirling in his eyes made her clench down around her own fingers, causing her to lift her hips and moan.

His stare dropped back down between her legs and he reached for the waistband of his lounge pants. Her breath stalled in her lungs.

And then he was pulling down his pants and his cock was…

Big would be an understatement.

It was huge, swollen and engorged.

It looked good enough to eat, and she wanted so badly to taste the salty slickness of his enormous cock, but he’d made clear that it wasn’t going to happen just yet.

Instead, he was stroking himself in front of her. His massive thighs shivered as he got closer.

“On me. Please,” she panted. She had no idea where the request came from but she knew that she had to feel him on her. She spread her legs wider, rubbing her clit faster. She was so close and she wanted him to fall with her.

He groaned and his hand worked faster as he fisted himself. Her eyes were glued on his cock. Thick and hard and wrapped in his own fingers. It was the hottest thing she’d ever seen in her life, watching Duke get himself off.

“Fuck, darlin, I’m so close. Rub that little clit, make yourself come for me.” His words were staggered and rough and had taken on a dark edge as he ground them out between his clenched teeth.

Ari was beyond herself. Her hips jerked and she cried out as she raced toward the edge. Above her Duke growled low like a wild animal and then he swore as his body went stiff.

Between her legs she watched Duke’s cock pulse and then she watched him come. It hit her hand, covered it in thick bursts of liquid heat and the orgasm she’d been chasing burst over her in cascading waves of pleasure so intense that she felt weightless.

When she finally caught her breath enough to open her eyes, Duke was still between her legs. He looked like a fallen angel, sitting on his knees with his head bowed forward. His broad shoulders lifted and fell with each ragged breath he took. Finally he lifted his head.

His eyes glittered when he met her stare. “You are nothing like I expected, Boston.”

She didn’t have the strength to move anything but her lips so she smiled slowly. “Is that a good thing?”

“Fuck yeah.” He shook his head as if he were trying to clear it, then moved from the bed, pulled the waistband of his pants up and went into the attached bathroom. She heard water running and then he was back with a warm washcloth between her legs.

“That was hot,” she said in a lazy, satisfied voice. “Watching you.”

“Darlin’, everything about tonight was the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen,” he answered back.

Once he was finished cleaning her he got off the bed.

“Will you stay?” Her heart thundered in her chest as soon as the words left her lips. She had no idea what tonight meant and she still had a month’s worth of work to do there at the ranch, but she wanted to be close to him. Just for a little while. The longer he stood there, the more vulnerable she felt.

She gave him a small smile and her lips trembled.

“Never mind. That was a silly question.”

But Duke sat down, then stretched out next to her. After a minute he lifted his arm and motioned for her to come closer. She snuggled against him, relishing the warmth that radiated from his body.

His arm slid down and he held her for a moment. “I guess I could stay a while.”

She didn’t realize how tense she was until he said those words. Her body relaxed and she pressed closer, moving her fingers across his abs. The muscles twitched under her fingers, making her smile.

Their exertions and the heat from his body worked their magic and soon her eyelids grew so heavy she could barely keep them open. After a pretty big yawn, she snuggled down deeper and let her eyes drift shut.

When he spoke again, his voice startled her awake from her doze. “So I was thinking,” he said, his voice a little rough and loud suddenly.

“Oh?” she said, blinking. “What about?”

“I think that this whole thing would work even better if we got married on the ranch.”

Her throat tightened and her mouth went dry. “Wait a minute. Like fake married?”

“No. Totally and completely legit. I’ve decided that you’re gonna be my wife, Boston.”